Reviews

Der Beweis by César Aira

kolymaarasto's review against another edition

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dark mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.25

I didn't like it. It still feels like the book achieved what the author set out to do. If this was a fantasy book, it would be shelved under grim dark. The characters are immensely unlikable and infuriating, the whole approach nihilistic.

The first two thirds of the story consist of pointless conversation, or rather characters evading a true conversation, and sexual harassment interspersed with fat-shaming and name-calling. In the last third, this culminates in robbery, arson and murder - and the "proof" that humanity is inherently evil and there is no innocence. The thoughts about transformation and the origin of morals within the last three pages fell flat for me.

schoemanrohan's review against another edition

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5.0

This is by far the best novella I've read in a long time, and boy does it get strange.

lilaccoconut_bookclub's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Well, that was a journey. Honestly, I had no idea where it was going at any point in time. It was certainly amusing.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings

lalondes's review against another edition

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tense fast-paced

3.0

plumpud1305's review against another edition

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challenging reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

I can’t tell if this was deep or just pretend deep nonsense. Like it might be amazing but it also might not really be that great. Also in the best way possible the blurb for this book felt like a readers version of click bait. 

kittywinks's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

4.5

haarry201's review against another edition

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adventurous dark mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Wild ride of a book, everything that happens is so unexpected and yet flows so naturally. Very well translated, wouldn't have been able to tell if I didn't know beforehand

inies's review against another edition

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dark

3.0

mis_lace's review against another edition

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adventurous funny mysterious tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

kate_in_a_book's review against another edition

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3.0

This slim novella manages to be both thoughtfully philosophical and explosive with action – it just does one then the other. There is a sense of menace from the start, when 16-year-old schoolgirl Marcia is out for a walk in Buenos Aires and realises that as it is starting to get dark, big groups of young people are beginning to gather outside cafes and record shops. Out of the blue she is propositioned “Wannafuck?” – which is actually the first word of the story.

This is a fast read, pacier than you might expect for something that not only dwells on philosophy but also describes minute details. I don’t know if this was the original or the translation, but I found some of the painstaking description a little tedious. Though later in the story some of those details begin to have a purpose.

Read my full review: https://www.noseinabook.co.uk/2021/07/08/it-was-the-climax-of-the-accumulated-impressions/